The cane fields, at Smithfield in far north Queensland, will go up in flames on Friday evening, with the now-rare scene expected to draw curious spectators.

"We can't take the risk of the ants spreading any further," Mr Savina said.

"The only way they can guarantee we don't transport [the electric ants] is to burn the cane and kill the ants on the surface, then we take the cane away and authorities [can] treat the area."

Mr Savina said the ants were a threat to local wildlife and recalled a time when he saw them take down and kill a grown coastal taipan.

Burning fields is the only solution

National Electric Ant Eradication Program coordinator Gary Morton said after electric ants were found on the Smithfield property, Biosecurity Queensland Officers could not enter the standing cane safely to treat the ants.

Why electric ants are dangerous

Electric ants are a serious invasive species

They are tiny golden-brown ants and are about 1.5 mm long

They can inflict a painful sting resulting in itchy and persistent pimples

They may sting, and possibly blind, domestic pets

First detected in Cairns in 2006, electric ants are one of the world's most invasive pests

They can injure other wildlife

They are thought to have reduced reptile populations in New Caledonia and tortoise populations in Galapagos Archipelago, where ants eat hatchlings and attack eyes and cloacae of adult tortoises

Source: Queensland Government

"Burning the field will ensure that the cane is cleanly harvested and no electric ants will be spread in cane bins as they are transported off the property," he said

"The fire will also leave no trash cover on the ground, ensuring that our bait treatment will reach the ground and be taken away by the ants.

"If we can't treat this area safely and completely, then it would jeopardise our chances of eradicating electric ants from far north Queensland."

Mr Morton said there might be smoke and smut which could inconvenience people but electric ants would cause far worse issues in the longer term.

"This is a great example of the partnership between a landholder, local council, the Rural Fire Service and Biosecurity Queensland working together to eradicate electric ants from Cairns and Australia," he said.